manufacturer of customized presses to an all-round provider for
composite manufacturing. The family-run company is thus reacting to the
increasing demand for supplementary services revolving around the
planning and development of press systems.
These services range from component development to concept and
feasibility studies through to overall planning and general contracting
for complete production lines including turnkey solutions. In this way,
Wickert wants to offer its customers highly productive composite
processing from a single source.
The composite specialist expects to see new stimulus for growth from the
increasing level of automation in production and the increased desire
for greater system flexibility with the use of additional injection
units. Furthermore, the company is anticipating a future rise in
thermoplastic processing and has also identified potential in the use of
natural fibers and natural resins. Wickert believes it is well
positioned to serve all four trends.
Wickert integrates all-round composite manufacturing
As Steve Büchner, Sales and Project Manager at Wickert, explains,
assistance is important even in the early phase of component development
and in the implementation of feasibility studies, due to the fact that
engineering resources are sometimes scarce for composite manufacturers:
“Thanks to our experience in manufacturing, we are able to provide
valuable advice in these early stages.” In this regard, the machine
manufacturer from Germany’s Palatinate region benefits from its vast
experience with the integration of customized presses in composite
production lines.
Wickert is now putting this know-how to good use by independently
offering all-in-one systems, Büchner explains: “We know which
supplementary components meet our high quality standards and how we can
integrate these in perfect harmony.” This insight means that the
company is also able to offer turnkey solutions to interested parties.
And this can all be done without having to expand the company’s own
product range.
Their own department designs concepts for automation and customized
solutions
The company’s own development department provides assistance in the
planning of entire systems and designs individual concepts for
automation and customized solutions. This allows the systems to be
implemented with fully automated production. “We are also able to link
up presses and peripheral components with other parts of the system and
the primary process control systems in line with a Smart Factory”,
Büchner explains.
Increased flexibility for composite presses through the use of
additional modules
The company has seen an increased desire among customers to use
composite presses flexibly for diverse applications. Even today, with
relatively little effort, the presses can be extended by additional
modules for injection processes such as RTM (Resin Transfer Molding) and
RIM (Reaction Injection Molding) as well as polyurethane injection
units.
Thermoplastic composites for mass production
Wickert also sees opportunities for growth from the increasing interest
in the use of thermoplastic matrix systems. The company believes that
the thermoplastic forming of organo sheets, in particular, is on the
rise. This is because high-precision, mass-produced parts can be
manufactured in stable, fully automated processes – and with
significantly shorter cycle times than with thermosetting.
Natural fibers have potential
At least in the medium term, the composite specialists also see growth
potential in the market for natural-fiber-reinforced plastics (NFRP)
using fibers such as flax, hemp, jute, sisal and kenaf as well as
natural resins with vegetable oil basis. In addition to the principle of
unlimited availability, important advantages include their excellent
compostability in comparison with glass or carbon fibers as well as
stable prices. However, Büchner believes the success of NFRPs will
depend on broad acceptance among customers. The systems for production
already exist, as natural materials can already be processed on Wickert
presses.
To download the press release as a Word document and 3 jpg images in
print resolution as a zip file folder (3.2 MB):
https://www.auchkomm.com/djang
The print-ready jpg images and the text of the press release as a Word
document containing the image caption can also be downloaded from
https://www.auchkomm.com/aktue
About Wickert Maschinenbau GmbH
Wickert Maschinenbau GmbH is a medium-sized, family-owned company based
in Landau in der Pfalz. We are active in the development and manufacture
of hydraulic presses and fully automated press systems. All machines and
systems have a modular structure and feature pressing forces of between
20 and 100,000 kN, with a customer-specific layout in each case. The
provided systems are used to process elastomers, composites, plastics
and powder materials. In addition to the production of pharmaceutical
sealing plugs, the presses are also used in the manufacture of brake and
clutch linings as well as grinding disks, as fixture hardening systems,
and in research and scientific laboratories.
Hans-Joachim Wickert and Stefan Herzinger are the partners and managing
directors of the family business that was founded in 1901 and
exclusively manufactures in Landau in der Pfalz, from where it supplies
its customers in Europe, the Americas and Asia. In 2020, 172 employees
generated a turnover of around € 40 million.
Contact:
Wickert Maschinenbau GmbH
Stephanie Wickert
Head of Marketing
Wollmesheimer Höhe 2, D-76829 Landau
Phone: +49 6341 9343 830, E-mail: s.wickert@wickert-presstech.de
For more information go to www.wickert-presstech.de [3].
Print copy requested:
auchkomm Unternehmenskommunikation, F. Stephan Auch, Hochstr. 11,
D-90429 Nuremberg, fsa@auchkomm.de, www.auchkomm.de [2].
Links:
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[1] https://www.auchkomm.com/aktue
[2] http://www.auchkomm.de/
[3] http://www.wickert-presstech.d
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